Hello Tom, one good question for you is:
Did you know all that you know today as a child, OR, did you not learn through trial and error?? Dowsing is no different.....
Elh, In order to answer your direct question here, you would need to take it to another forum where direct questions such as this, can be answered. But I will give it a short try here, in a non-badgering nice friendly way :
Your question starts with a "prior commitment obligation". It has an implied premise. Given the topic we are discussing, it has an implicit premise that: "dowsing works". If we start with
that, then
sure: If someone CAN'T get it to work, then it doesn't mean "it doesn't work". It would only mean they didn't practice, and learn enough. They are still a child, so-to-speak, in their understanding and skill of it. Right ? Have I understood correctly ?
But don't you see that this all hinges on the starting premise ? Since when was that a given ? Everything you're saying is true, if we accept that starting premise.
Dissenters can chalk up the anecdotal stories of finds-made, to other factors. Which I will not go into here. But you can start a thread on the "general discussion" and I can explain that.
Again: This is said in a "non-badgering" friendly way, as an answer to your direct question. If ... even then ... this is seen to be a violation of the rules here, the mod's can feel free to delete.

Or I will make the next pot of coffee, or whatever penance is required.